Mississippi expected to have sports betting as early as June after high court ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday struck down a decades-old federal ban on sports betting, putting Mississippi among the first in line to allow it.

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High court justices ruled 6-3 that a 1992 federal law blocking sports betting outside Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana is unconstitutional. New Jersey has battled this in court for years, with other states joining in, arguing it's unconstitutional under the 10th Amendment's provisions for states rights. The court last year agreed to hear the case.

Mississippi gambling officials have said casinos here could be up and running with betting on professional and college sports within 45 days of Monday's ruling.

The Mississippi Legislature, unbeknownst to most lawmakers and citizens, legalized sports betting in Mississippi casinos last year by deleting a snippet of law that prohibited betting on any games that occur outside casinos. The deletion was made — and not announced to most lawmakers — in a measure dealing with regulation of fantasy sports.

In addition to Mississippi and New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and West Virginia also had passed state measures allowing legal sports betting, in anticipation of Monday's court ruling.

Mississippi Gaming Commission Director Allen Godfrey has said the new Mississippi law allows sports betting, subject to regulation by the commission.

"It will be just another type of game offered in a legal casino operation," Godfrey told the Clarion Ledger.

Godfrey said the commission would have regulations and approvals finalized and sports betting could begin in casinos "within 45 to 60 days, before football season."

A spokesman for Gov. Phil Bryant on Monday said the governor "recognizes the U.S. Supreme Court's decision as the law of the land."

"As with any revenue stream, the governor will make sure taxpayer dollars are used to their maximum benefit and properly accounted for."

House Speaker Philip Gunn, who has voiced opposition to sports betting, last year said he was caught unaware that House Bill 967, passed in 2017, legalized sports betting in Mississippi. This year, there were several bills aimed at reversing, or postponing legalized sports betting, but those bills died without a hearing.

On Monday, Gunn issued a statement through a spokeswoman saying, "The Supreme Court has ruled. It is what it is."

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

No one is really sure how large the current (mostly illegal) U.S. sports betting market is, although many cite a $150 billion-a-year figure. In Nevada, legal sports gambling accounts for 2 percent to 4 percent of annual gross gambling revenue of $10 billion to $11 billion a year. Mississippi's gross gambling revenue is about $2 billion.

Mississippi casinos are taxed at 12 percent on revenue, with 8 percent going to the state and up to 4 percent going to local government.

Proponents of sports betting say it could provide a needed shot in the arm for Mississippi’s 25-year old gambling industry and its 28 casinos, particularly in Tunica and river areas that have seen slumping business and casinos closing.

But industry experts say the real benefit, more than direct betting revenue, will be increased foot traffic in casinos from sports betting, particularly during major events such as the Super Bowl.

Mississippi leaders also await this summer a ruling from the Supreme Court on states collecting sales tax from internet purchases.